MR. SPRUCE’S BOTANICAL EXCURSION. 305 
Ravines of Mount Victoria. A most beautiful, moderate-sized shrub, 
by no means so common as the S. suberifolium, and well deserving in- 
- troduction into this country. It has much the appearance of Deutzia 
scabra; its flowers, in April, are most deliciously and delicately scented, 
much resembling the perfume of violets. It is evidently allied to S. 
virgatum and S. Porterianum, but the leaves are much smoother, the 
flowers longer, ete. The ovules are all erect, as described by Zuccarini 
in the 8. Japonicum, a species in other respects differing considerably 
from ours. The 5S. agreste, Don, or Cyría agrestis, Lour., must also be 
nearly allied to S. odoratissimum, but the fruit is said to be attenuated 
at the base as well as at the apex. De Candolle was indeed disposed 
to rejec? the Cyrta altogether from Styrax, as having, according to 
Loureiro, the * germen superum," but in Séyraæ itself the ovary is, to 
the present day, as frequently described as superior after Jussieu, as 
inferior after Linnæus. 
(To be continued.) 
Letter from Mn. SPRUCE to GEORGE BENTHAM, ESQ. 
S. Gabriel da Cachoeira; Rio Negro, April 15, 1852. 
The last Correio brought me your letter of August 16, 1851, in 
which you inform me of the safe arrival of my cases. My principal 
object in writing now is to inform you that I left a case of plants at 
Uanauáca, below the falls of Sad Gabriel, to be despatched to Para by 
the first opportunity, and I expect it will be forwarded about this time. 
In future you will probably receive my sendings in but small quantities - 
at a time, the smallness of the vessels that navigate these upper waters 
not allowing of above one or two smallish cases being sent in them; - 
but you can of course keep them by you until you have 300 or 400 — ut 
species to distribute. 
I found it a great advantage travelling in my own canoe. I had it fit- 
ted up so that I could work comfortably, and stow away my plants when —— 
dried, besides being able to dry my paper on the top of the cabins 
the day. I was also 
when it was inconvenient to stop in the middle of à 
master of my own movements,—could stop where and when I liked,— 
save that it was necessary to keep the Indians in good humour. When 
the weather was cool they did not like to be interrupted in pulling, but 
VOL, IV. | 2R 
